And announcing where he wanted to go probably wouldn’t help with that. “The California Academy of Sciences is here. They have some really interesting exhibits.” That wasn’t the kind of thing Trevor did. Simon knew that.

“Why are you embarrassed about that? Lead the way.”

So Simon did. It took a good couple of hours for them to explore the whole museum. There was a really interesting earthquake exhibit that Simon found fascinating—the how and why of it. All the amazing and scary things the earth could do.

They visited the planetarium next. He hadn’t gone to one of these since he was a kid. He remembered his father had dropped him off at one on a Saturday and then picked Simon up a few hours later.

He’d worked all week, he’d told Simon. He was sorry. You don’t need me around, do you?

Simon had of course told him no when the answer had been yes.

Trevor’s favorite part seemed to be the rainforest. It was four levels, and they spent close to an hour exploring every part of it.

It was hot and Simon was sweaty, but the humidity inside didn’t seem to bother Trevor.

“Hey, look.” Trevor nodded toward the tree in the middle of the circular dome. There was a blue butterfly, one of the brightest Simon had ever seen, resting on a branch right in front of them. “It’s beautiful. My mom bought us one of those butterfly kits when we were kids. It came with caterpillars that Blake and I watched until they turned into butterflies. He cried when we had to let them go. I remember busting his balls about it...but I didn’t want to let them go, either.”

Simon liked hearing these stories from Trevor. It was almost like Trevor relived them, as if he was finding out new things about himself because he’d been so lost to his addiction for so many years. Simon was lucky as hell that he got to share this with Trevor.

They went to the Conservatory of Flowers and the Japanese Gardens. Trevor rented bikes for them and they rode through the park, exploring every inch of it they could—the lakes, bridges, hills, trees. There was even a part in the park that had American Bison, which they watched for a little while.

It wasn’t until they got back to the car that Simon realized something. He’d lived in the city for years, yet he’d never come here, as an adult. Never taken the time. It was such a simple, easy thing to do, yet he’d never done it.

It wasn’t only Trevor who was learning new things about himself, Simon was too.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

“Wow. This house is incredible, Simon.” Trevor stood in the living room and looked around. It wasn’t a large house, not by a long shot. It was close to the size of the guest house on Simon’s property, but it had the perfect feel to it. The whole front wall in the living room was windows, facing out to a quiet stretch of beach.

There was no TV. He almost teased Simon about that, but he figured they wouldn’t need one anyway. If Trevor had his way, they’d be naked most of the time they were here.

“I’m glad you like it. I was lucky to get it on such short notice.” Simon stepped up behind him and massaged Trevor’s shoulders. It only lasted a second before Simon pulled back, and Trevor turned to see him rubbing his right hand.

He didn’t complain about the pain often, but Trevor knew it bothered him. “I’m supposed to spend the night with my mouth on you, remember?”

Simon smiled. “You won’t hear me arguing about that. I’m going to take a quick shower. I feel dirty from our day.”

Trevor nodded as Simon went for the hallway. He lasted about two seconds before the blue of the ocean called his name. Trevor found a few towels in the hall closet, grabbed them, kicked out of his shoes and went outside.

It was late evening already. They’d spent their whole day at the park. No one was around, and Trevor couldn’t see any houses other than theirs.

This was such an amazing part of living here—the water. Why hadn’t he ever let himself experience it before? Probably because he’d been too fucked up.

Trevor pulled off his shirt and kicked out of his shorts, leaving himself in nothing but his boxers. It was cold, and he knew the water would be even colder, but still he went for it.

He made it up to his knees before he started to rethink it. A shiver rocked through him but Trevor kept going. Waves rolled in around him as he dove into the cold water.

He shook his head when he surfaced. It felt good. Cold, but good.

He turned to head back to the shore and saw Simon there, on the sand, with a blanket in his hand. “Come on!” he yelled. “Get your ass out here with me!”